Dave Nolan tells us of his experience of driving aid that had been donated by Dorset people to Ukraine and why local support is so important...
Article first published in Love It Local magazine, December 2024
Another successful mission from Dorset to Ukraine...
Yet another successful mission with two vans and two trailers setting off for Ukraine on Sunday morning 22nd September at 3am. Along with myself, were Nathan and Mike who have been many times, Graham Allen of New Forest for Ukraine (NFFU) accompanied us.
We took our usual route staying in Germany Sunday night and then Ryki (far side of Poland) on Monday night. The third day we would normally head for the Ukraine border but on this occasion we called in at the HUC (Help for Ukraine Centre) in Chełm, where NFFU send lorry loads of humanitarian aid.
Working with wonderful Ukrainian volunteers
This is where we met Eugina and Victoria, two wonderful Ukrainian volunteers, who unload the lorries for onward distribution to various other charities within Ukraine.
From here we left for the Poland / Ukraine border and on to our usual destination, the Caritas charity in Sokal, north of Lviv. Once again we were greeted by Marjana and her team of dedicated volunteers.
Amongst our generously donated aid from Purbeck and surrounding areas, we also provided eight much needed generators. It cannot be stressed enough the importance of these due to the constant power outages, and it’s only going to get worse as winter takes hold.
Charity set up in memorial of a young soldier
The following morning, we went to the AKCF hub in Chervonohrad which is another charity that distributes within Ukraine. (set up in memory of a young soldier see photo).
‘It’s going to be a long, cold, hard winter in Ukraine and your continued support is imperative’
Here we were able to help further by re loading both vans to move more aid within the surrounding areas. Once this task was completed we were able to re-stock a third time with two van loads to go further east to Dnipro the following day.
Whilst in the Sokal / Chervonohrad area, we were taken to some very ‘makeshift’ assembly units where more volunteers were hand making camouflage nets and various other essential items from off cuts of materials (first aid kit bags and stretchers etc).
Our chosen route to Dnipro was via Kyiv so we could have an overnight stop. Whilst in Kyiv, we witnessed the unbelievable array of Ukrainian flags, one for every fallen soldier during this conflict. Also on display in the main square, graphic details of the devastation throughout the country.
From Kyiv we headed south to Pyatykhatky travelling down the eastern side of the Dniper river before crossing back west. The volunteers waiting for us us at the ‘Give Good’ charity welcomed us with open arms and unloaded two van loads of much needed humanitarian aid. I will add that the air raid sirens were sounding as this was all going on.
The ‘Give Good’ charity supports the families that are fleeing from the Donbas region still on a daily basis. They provide them with food, clothing and a roof over their heads using a school as a temporary shelter. The building they run from, had NO heating and sporadic electricity.
Only Though fundraising events at Swanage & Wareham Rugby club, Wareham Bear Investment Club, and donations from U-Drive and many other private donators, are we able to keep this essential support going.
Our return journey the following day started without issues, having said our goodbyes with a promise of our continued support. It wasn’t until we were driving back through Poland when disaster struck. The trusty blue van broke down on the motorway. Having arranged recovery, it was Graham who very valiantly chose to stay with the blue van whilst Mike and Nathan and myself headed home.
The blue van eventually repaired, returned three days later with Graham receiving a well deserved pat on the back for all his efforts. It’s going to be a long, cold hard winter in Ukraine and your continued support is imperative.
Donate to the Dorset-Ukraine Aid Missions
Run by a group of Dorset people who have been taking aid to the Ukraine people, via generous donations, since just after the war broke out. They now have two vans which regularly make trips to Ukraine.
They have made some very useful contacts including charities, schools, radio stations and hospitals in Ukraine, and are always guided by these people as to what is needed to help make life easier for those who have had their whole lives disrupted by the war.
Follow their Facebook page @ ‘Heroes don’t need capes’, to find their latest appeals. You can either donate money for items, or for the upkeep and running costs of the vans. Every little donation counts. You can donate via their Go Fund Me page.
